Viscera pouch



T. R. BAXTER VISCERA POUCH April 5, 1966 Filed Feb. 17, 1964 INVENTOR. THUMAE RBAXTER.

A T Tys United States Patent 3,244,169 VISQERA POUCH Thomas B. Baxter, Mount Vernon, Ghio, assignor to Surgical Devices, Mount Vernon, Qhio, a corporation of Ohio Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser. No. 345,181) 3 Claims. fl. 128-82) The present invention relates to a flexible container of a specific type, and more particularly to a viscera pouch.

Conventional practice during some types of operations on the abdomen is to make an incision in the abdominal wall and thereafter remove some of the viscera through this incision, either for the purpose of working on the viscera or for exposing other parts of the body. Viscera that is so exposed tends to dry out, if otherwise unprotected, and it is conventional practice to spray the exposed viscera with some type of solution, and to thereafter cover the sprayed viscera with laparotomy packs and wraps. The application of solutions that are foreign to the body with internal parts of the body gives rise to the possibility of introduction of bacteria to the body, and the use ofthe packs and wraps sometimes produces abrasion of the viscera.

An object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved means for protecting and retaining the body fluids on the surface of the viscera which are withdrawn from the abdominal cavity during an operation.

' A more particular object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved flexible container which will "completely cover the viscera during an operation from the point at which they project out of the abdomen, which will automatically closely engage the viscera at the point where they project out of the abdomen, and which will assume a shape which does not interfere With access to the abdominal cavity through the incision.

Still a further object of theinvention is the provision of a new and improved flexible container of the above described type which is so constructed and arranged that the viscera can be easily placed in the container and the container can be easily and quickly sealed oit".

Further objects and advantages will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention relates from the following description of a preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is an isometric view of a partially opened viscera pouch embodying principles of the present inventionr.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the viscera pouch shown in FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 2.

The viscera pouch 19 shown in the drawing comprises a generally flattened tubular member 11 capable of forming a longitudinally extending internal chamber 12 when expanded. One end of the tubular member 11 is necked down as at 13 to a projection 14 which extends longitudinally of the flattened tubular member 11 and which forms a small diameter extension 15 of the internal chamber 12 when expanded. The side edges of the necked down portions 13 and projection 14 are sealed. and the end of the projection 14 is rolled over as at 16 and attached to the outside surface of the projection 14 to provide a smooth end surface surrounding the small diameter extension 15 of the internal chamber 12.

The sidewalls of the opposite end of the tubular member 11 are rolled over to provide an enclosed draw string chamber 17, and the edge of the rolled over portion is sealed to the outside of the tubular member 11. In the embodiment shown in the drawing, the edge of the rolled over portion is sealed to the outside of the tubular member 11 by means of pressure sensitive tape 18 which provides reinforcing for the portion of the tubular member 11 adjacent the draw string chamber 177 The large end of the internal chamber is adapted to be closed off by draw string means extending through the draw string chamber 17. In the preferred embodiment, a pair of openings 19 and 20 are provided through the outside wall of the draw string chamber 17 at locations opposite each other so that the chamber 17 has two opposite side portions extending between the openings 19 and 20. In the preferred embodiment, the openings 19 and 20 are located along the side edges of the tubular member 11 which are formed when it is in its flattened condition, and a pair of draw strings 21 and 22 are provided, each of which project out of a respective one of the openings 19 and 2t) and preferably comprise a woven tape made of cotton, or other suitable fiber. The draw string 21 extends in through opening 19 through one side portion of the chamber 17, past opening 20, through the other side portion of the chamber 17 and out opening 19 where it is joined to the other end of the draw string 21. Draw string 22 extends through opening 20, through one side portion of chamber 17, past opening 19, through the other side portion of chamber 17, and out opening 20 where it is joined with the other end of the draw string 22.

During an operation, and after an incision is made in the abdominal wall, the surgeon inserts his arm through the large diameter end of tubular member 11 and through the small diameter opening 15 into the abdominal cavity. The surgeons arm automatically spreads the sidewalls of the projection 14 apart, so that it will receive the viscera, and when the surgeon withdraws his hand from the abdominal cavity, the viscera are automatically pulled through the small diameter opening 15 into the large diameter portion of the internal chamber '12. Because the sidewalls of the projection 14 normally tend to remain fiat, they contract around the viscera to restrict air passage through the opening 15 around the viscera. Thereafter the projection 14 is held adjacent the incision in the abdominal wall and additional sections of viscera are drawn through the opening 15. When the desired amount of viscera has been drawn into the chamber 12, the surgeon takes hold of the opposite draw strings21 and 22 and pulls them apart to close olr' the large diameter end of the chamber 12. The sum total of the friction provided by the two draw strings 21 and 22 with the walls of the draw string chamber 17 is sufiicient to hold the large diameter end of the chamber 12 closed without additional securing means such as the use of clamps, or knots. The projection 14 will extend along the portion of the viscera which projects out of the incision in the abdominal wall, while the main portion of the withdrawn viscera will be enclosed in the main portion of the pouch positioned away from the incision. The viscera pouch serves as a convenient container by which the viscera that has been withdrawn from the abdominal cavity can be conveniently handled and moved during the operation. The viscera pouch performs the function of preventing bacteria from contacting the viscera while withdrawn from the abdominal cavity, and also prevents the withdrawn viscera from drying out. Use of the viscera pouch reduces the traumatic effects produced on the patient, its use speeds up an operation, and facilitates replacement of the viscera in the exact position which they occupied prior to removal.

The viscera pouch It) can be made in various ways. The flattened generally tubular member 11 can be an extruded section, or can be a sheet material which is folded over and its two side edges sealed together. The

flattened tubular member 11 prepared in either of the above manners is thereafter cut to provide the necked down portions 13 and projection 14, and the edges of the necked down portions 13 and projection 14 are thereafter sealed together to close off this end of the internal chamber 12 excepting for the small diameter opening 15. Thereafter the end of the projection 14 can be rolled over and sealed in the manner above described. The viscera pouch 10 can be made of any suitable material which is moisture proof, and is preferably made from a heat sealable material such as a thermoplastic resin. The material should be one which is nontoxic, and which can be sterilized by autoclaving. One material which has proven to be very satisfactory is Polyallomer which is a trade name for a polyolefin that is a mixture of polyethylene and polypropylene.

While the invention has been described in considerable detail, it is not desired that it should be limited to the particular embodiment shown and described, and it is intended to cover hereby all novel adaptations, modifications, and arrangements thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

What I claim is:

1. A viscera pouch and the like comprising: a fiat generally tubular member having a large internal chamber and flexible sidewalls including a large opening at one end thereof bounded by a rolled over portion having an edge sealed to the sidewalls, said rolled over portion forming a chamber for the reception of draw string means, said sidewalls being necked down at the other end of said chamber to longitudinally extending sidewall portions forming a projection of said bag, said projection of said bag forming an extension of said internal chamber which ends in an opening of a size through which a hand will pass, the external walls of said rolled over portion forming said chamber having at least one small opening therein, and draw string means in and extending around said enclosed chamber with a portion extending through said small opening and whereby said sidewalls can be drawn together to close off said one end of said internal chamber by pulling said portion of said draw string means.

2. A viscera pouch and the like comprising: a fiat generally tubular member having a large internal chamber and flexible sidewalls including a large opening at one end thereof bounded by a rolled over portion having an edge sealed to the sidewalls, said rolled over'portion forming a chamber for the reception of draw string means, said sidewalls being necked down at the other end of said chamber to longitudinally extending sidewall portions forming a projection of said bag, said projection of said bag forming an extension of said internal chamber which ends in an opening of a size through which a hand will pass, said rolled over portion forming said draw string chamber having a pair of small openings through said sidewalls which are spaced generally opposite each other so that said enclosed draw string chamber has first and second opposite portions extending between said small openings, draw string means extending through said first and second portions of said draw string chamber and having first and second portions extending outwardly of respective openings of said draw string chamber, and whereby the large end opening of said tubular member can be closed off quickly by pulling said first and second draw string portions in opposite directions.

3. A viscera pouch and the like comprising: a fiat enerally tubular member having a large internal chamber and flexible sidewalls and including a large opening at one end thereof bounded by a rolled over portion having an edge sealed to the sidewalls, said rolled over portion forming a chamber for the reception of draw string portions, said sidewalls being necked down at the other end of said chamber to longitudinally extending sidewall portions forming a projection of said bag, said projection of said bag forming an extension of said internal chamber which ends in an opening of a size through which a hand will pass, the end of the sidewalls of said projection being rolled over to form a smooth rounded edge, a reinforcing tape securing the edge of said rolled over portion at said one end of said bag structure to said sidewalls, said rolled over portion forming said draw string chamber having a pair of small openings through the sidewalls of said draw strin chamber which are spaced generally opposite each other so that said enclosed draw string chamber has first and second opposite portions extending between said small openings, draw string means extending through said first and second portions of said draw string chamber and having first and second portions extending outwardly of respective openings of said draw string chamber, and whereby the large end of said internal chamber can be closed otf quickly by pulling said first and second draw string portions in opposite directions.

References flied by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,197,977 4/1940 Halpin 150ll 2,778,362 1/1957 Pollock et al. 12S283 2,969,792 1/1961 Milton 128272 X ADELE M. EAGER, Primary Examiner. 

1. A VISCERA POUCH AND THE LIKE COMPRISING: A FLAT GENERALLY TUBULAR MEMBER HAVING A LARGE INTERNAL CHAMBER AND FLEXIBLE SIDEWALLS INCLUDING A LARGE OPENING AT ONE END THEREOF BOUNDED BY A ROLLED OVER PORTION HAVING AN EDGE SEALED TO THE SIDEWALLS, SAID ROLLED OVER PORTION FORMING A CHAMBER FOR THE RECEPTION OF DRAW STRING MEANS, SAID SIDE WALLS BEING NECKED DOWN AT THE OTHER END OF SAID CHAMBER TO LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING SIDEWALL PORTIONS FORMING A PROJECTION OF SAID BAG, SAID PROJECTION OF SAID BAG FORMING AN EXTENSION OF SAID INTERNAL CHAMBER WHICH ENDS IN OPENING OF A SIZE THROUGH WHICH A HAND WILL PASS, THE EXTERNAL WALLS OF SAID ROLLED OVER PORTION FORMING SAID CHAMBER HAVING AT LEAST ONE SMALL OPENING THEREIN, AND DRAW STRING MEANS IN AND EXTENDING AROUND SAID ENCLOSED CHAMBER WITH A PORTION EXTENDING THROUGH SAID SMALL OPENING AND WHEREBY SAID SIDEWALLS CAN BE DRAWN TOGETHER TO CLOSE OFF SAID ONE END OF SAID INTERNAL CHAMBER BY PULLING SAID PORTION OF SAID DRAW STRING MEANS. 